Migration and "low-skilled" workers in destination countries

Benach, Joan; Muntaner, Carles; Delclos, Carlos; Men�ndez, Mar�a; Ronquillo, Charlene Esteban

Abstract

Summary Points

The last few decades have seen substantial increases in the migration of migrant workers, raising concerns about the health implications of these movements.
In destination countries, migrant workers often fill undesirable, low-skill positions characterized by flexibility, insecurity, precarious employment, and long working hours with low pay.
Undocumented or “illegal” migrants are especially vulnerable to exploitation since they fear job loss, incarceration, and deportation.
Urgent health issues to be addressed among migrant workers include occupational safety, injury prevention, work-related diseases, barriers to accessing health services, and the associated health risks for their families and communities, in addition to discrimination and exploitation.
Governments, unions, and international organizations should collaborate to implement fair labour standards for both legal and illegal labourers that are on par with citizen workers, standardise labour migration policies, and provide legal support for undocumented labourers to help eradicate human trafficking and other forms of extreme labour exploitation.

Citation

Benach, J., Muntaner, C., Delclos, C., Menéndez, M., & Ronquillo, C. E. (2011). Migration and "low-skilled" workers in destination countries. PLoS Medicine, 8(6), e1001043. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001043

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 9, 2010
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2011
• Deposit Date: Mar 14, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 14, 2016
• Journal: PLoS Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1549-1277
• Electronic ISSN: 1549-1676
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 6
• Pages: e1001043
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001043
• Keywords: migration, workers, work
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/961757
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001043